Editorial: When kids fall through the cracks

Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 | 9:15 a.m.

More than three years ago the Sun documented problems that to this day still prevent abused and neglected children from promptly getting foster care. One key stumbling block has been that Nevada has had both the counties and state involved in child welfare services. Other states have either the local government or the state, not both, providing services in this area. As Sun reporter Steve Kanigher noted in a story Monday, the existing situation in Nevada has resulted in gaps in services and communication that sadly allows the children to fall through the cracks.

A legislative interim committee chaired by Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, recommended last year that the two biggest counties -- Clark and Washoe -- handle this responsibility alone (the 15 rural counties still would have the state offer child welfare services). It was encouraging then when Gov. Kenny Guinn last week signed on to this proposal, too. The governor wants to spend $86 million over the next two years to better child welfare services, including the money needed to consolidate the existing system. Still, the Legislature will have to pore over every facet of Guinn's proposal to ensure that there are no hidden provisions that will end up transferring this responsibility to the county without the appropriate funding to do the job.

It may not get the attention of such high-profile issues as taxes or education funding, but if the 2001 Legislature and the governor can pass a program that genuinely improves the delivery of child welfare services, that would be a signature accomplishment.